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November 19, 2008

New Water Mission Network Formed

Mission Consultation on Water helps launch new group

by Pat Cole
Communications Associate
Presbyterian World Mission

SACRAMENTO, CA — A new Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) mission network focusing on clean water and sanitation around the world has been launched.

The Water Mission Network was formed at the conclusion of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Mission Consultation on Water Nov. 13–15 at Westminster Presbyterian Church here.

About 40 people attended, including representatives from congregations, middle governing bodies, country mission networks, and Presbyterian groups focused on water projects as well as General Assembly Council staff and PC(USA) mission workers.

The new network is the 34th PC(USA)-related mission network. Mission networks bring together Presbyterians with a common interest in a country or region, a people group, or another mission focus.

At the consultation the group heard plenary addresses from David Douglas, founder of Waterlines and Water Advocates, and Rajyashri Waghray, director of education and advocacy for international justice and human rights for Church World Service.

The conference also included presentations by grassroots Presbyterians involved in water mission projects and international mission workers, who focused mainly on the technical aspects of clean water access and/or basic sanitation.

Presenters included Susan Bradish and the Rev. Wil Howie of Living Waters for the World, Tom Logan of Marion Medical Mission, the Rev. David Dolan of the Presbytery of Los Ranchos and Mark Reimers of Waterlines.

PC(USA) international mission workers addressing the group were Jim McGill (Malawi), Larry Sthreshley (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Tim Wheeler (Honduras).

To read more about the Mission Consultation on Water, click here.

For information about and letters from PC(USA) mission workers around the world, visit the Web site.